Evolutionary ecology of conflict and cooperation

This symposium analyzed a wide range of adaptations characterized by the dual theme of conflict-cooperation, arising at all stages of evolution and all levels of biological organization, including pre cellular biotic systems, symbiosis, host-parasite interactions, competitive behavior for patchy resources, life histories, altruism, social insects, up to the interface of biological and cultural evolution in humans. In spite of such diversity of problems the conceptual homogeneity among the various presentation was remarkable, demonstrated by the general reliance on a few powerful concepts such as that of Evolutionarily Stable Strategies (ESS). In spite of the convener's wishes, theoretical papers far outnumbered experimental ones, but the few of the last type that were present forcibly exemplified the great benefits that can be gathered from a tight cooperation between mathematical theory and experiment in behavioral ecology.